[Regent's Residence · Study · Evening]
Xie Qingyan sat at his desk, lost in thought for a long time.
The study was quiet, the only sound the occasional flutter of a page in the evening breeze. Candles burned on either side of his desk, casting warm pools of light that only made the turmoil in his chest more stark by contrast.
That guy, Yin Wuwang...
He replayed the scene in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The assassin's blade had been heading straight for his back. Yin Wuwang had thrown himself forward to block it, and the word had burst from his lips—
"Fu—"
In that instant, Xie Qingyan had heard it clearly.
Not "Duke of Zhenguo." Not "Regent." Not even "Xie Lan"—the name of the character he was supposed to be playing. It was "Fu." The "Fu" of "Fuguang."
In this world, they were supposed to maintain their personas. The Regent and the Duke. Political rivals. Characters in someone else's story.
But in that split second of mortal peril, Yin Wuwang's instinct hadn't been to call out a character's name. It had been to call out his name. His real name. The name that belonged to Xie Qingyan, not to any role he was playing.
He remembered Yin Wuwang's face in that moment.
No calculation. No scheming. Just raw, unfiltered terror—the kind of fear that strips away all pretense and leaves only what matters most.
Those purple eyes had been wide with panic, all arrogance gone, all masks shattered. In all the centuries of facing each other across battlefields, Xie Qingyan had never seen that expression on the Demon Sovereign's face. Not when he had been wounded. Not when he had been cornered. Not even when Xie Qingyan's blade had pierced his heart at the Sea of Wuwang.
But the moment that assassin's blade had aimed for Xie Qingyan's back—that was when Yin Wuwang's composure had broken completely.
We've been in this world for over a month. He's played "Duke Yin Lie" flawlessly every single day. But in a life-or-death moment, his mask slipped—and what surfaced was "Fuguang."
Not the mission. Not the role. Me.
What does that mean?
Xie Qingyan had lived for so long, had seen countless human hearts.
But this person, Yin Wuwang—he could never see through him.
They were clearly enemies, yet Yin Wuwang always appeared at critical moments.
He clearly said "it has nothing to do with me," yet he kept positioning himself between Xie Qingyan and danger.
He could have easily avoided taking that blade, yet he chose to block it with his own body.
What exactly is this person after?
Xie Qingyan thought back to the great war between the righteous and demonic paths all those years ago. Back then, they had truly been fighting to kill, every strike lethal.
But even so, Yin Wuwang had never actually dealt him a fatal blow. Every time it was "stopping at the right moment." Every time, a blade that could have struck true had veered away at the last second.
At the time, he had assumed Yin Wuwang simply wasn't strong enough.
Now that he thought about it... was it really a matter of strength?
The Demon Sovereign had fought gods and demons alike. He had toppled empires and conquered realms. He was one of the most powerful beings in existence.
And yet, in all those centuries of battle, he had never once killed Xie Qingyan.
Why?
He thought again about everything that had happened this past month—
During the interrogation of Wang Ming, Yin Wuwang's insight into human nature. The way he had read the corrupt official like an open book, understanding motivations and fears with unsettling precision.
When planning the feigned death, Yin Wuwang's idea to frame the Prime Minister. A strategy so elegant, so devious, that even Xie Qingyan had been impressed.
The six-hour vigil, and Yin Wuwang's reddened eyes. The way he had sat there all night, holding a "corpse's" hand, refusing to leave.
And today, that unfinished "Fu—"
What did all of this mean when put together?
The evidence was mounting. Piece by piece, moment by moment, a picture was forming that he had refused to see for so long.
Xie Qingyan closed his eyes.
He wasn't oblivious.
He was just... uncertain what to make of it.
What exactly did his longtime enemy feel toward him? What was behind those purple eyes that always seemed to be watching, waiting, hoping for something?
And now that they knew the truth—that they were nothing but characters in a book, that all their enmity had been written by some author's hand, that even their identities were merely names on a page—could they become something different?
After everything they had been through in this world... was it possible for them to become friends?
And yet—
That sentence: "With you here, I'm not afraid."
That night of keeping vigil for six hours.
That silhouette throwing itself in front of a blade meant for him.
That half-spoken name, bitten off at the last second.
If they were merely enemies, who would go to such lengths?
If he only wanted revenge, why would he protect me?
If he hated me, why would his first instinct be to call my name?
Xie Qingyan opened his eyes and looked out the window at the sun sinking below the horizon.
Yin Wuwang... what exactly are you trying to say?
He realized that he actually... cared about the answer.
This thought made him frown slightly.
Why do I care?
He's my enemy. Was my enemy. Is... what is he now?
A partner? An ally? Something more?
The questions spiraled, each one leading to more questions, none of them with easy answers.
Forget it. He rubbed his brow. I'll deal with it after we leave this world.
There's still a mission to complete. Everything else... can wait.
But when exactly is "later"?
When we finish this mission and return to the cultivation world? When we're back to being enemies? When we're trying to kill each other again?
Will there ever be a "later" where we can talk about this properly?
He shook his head, forcing himself to focus.
Stop thinking about it.
Night fell. Candlelight flickered. The study grew dark around him, shadows pooling in the corners.
But Yin Wuwang's purple eyes kept haunting his mind, refusing to fade.
That look in those eyes when he had taken the blade. That unfinished word. That question that hung between them like a blade of its own.
Yin Wuwang... what are we?
Outside, the last light of sunset disappeared, and the first stars appeared in the darkening sky.
Somewhere in the city, a bell tolled the hour.
But Xie Qingyan didn't hear it. He was still thinking about purple eyes.
[End of Chapter 37]
Next Chapter Preview:
Standing on the city walls at sunset, discussing the flaws in the story's villains, Xie Qingyan suddenly says: "You're not as stupid as I thought."
Yin Wuwang's heart races. Wait—is this a confession?!
Chapter 38: He Says "You're Not As Stupid As I Thought"—Is This a Confession?!